[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § I]
AUTOMATIC DIALER
A device that automatically dials and relays a prerecorded
message to a central station or the fire department.
AUTOMATIC FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
A system or assembly of piping, valves, controls and sprinklers
which are designed and installed to comply with the NFPA standards,
which utilize water, foam, CO2, or other gas
to automatically react to suppress fire.
BUILDING
Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering
any occupancy.
CENTRAL STATION
An office of a private company to which remote alarm and
supervisory signaling devices are transmitted and where personnel
are in attendance at all times to supervise the circuits and investigate
signals.
CODES OFFICIAL
Borough official (Fire Chief, Fire Inspector, Fire Marshal,
Codes Enforcement Officials) or designee responsible for enforcement
of this Part.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Equipment which automatically actuates a fire alarm when
the detecting element is exposed to fire, smoke, abnormal rise or
decrease in temperature or activation of a sprinkler or extinguishing
system or manually activated device.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Bristol Consolidated Fire Company (Station 50), Bristol Fire
Company (Station 51), Goodwill Hose Company #3 (Station 52) and America
Hose, Hook and Ladder (Station 53) which provide fire/rescue protection
and services to Bristol Borough.
KNOX-BOX (LOCK OR KEY BOX)
A high-security key vault, which is listed under the UL 1610,
and the UL 1037 standards, master keyed with a Medeco Level 7 or equivalent
lock. Locks shall be keyed to the key configuration provided by the
fire department that provides contracted service in the Borough.
KNOX PADLOCK
Lock that secures perimeter or fire access gates, sprinkler
systems and shut-off valves constructed of heavy-duty steel body with
weather-resistant cover that is opened by the Knox master key.
STANDPIPE SYSTEM
A wet or dry system of piping, valves, outlets and related
equipment designed to provide water at specified pressures and installed
exclusively for the fighting of fires.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § II]
Each building within Bristol Borough which is protected by an
automatic fire suppression or standpipe system and not manned during
a twenty-four-hour, seven-day a week operation, shall be equipped
with a key box. The key box shall be at a location approved by the
Bristol Borough Codes Official (hereby referred to as "Codes Official").
The key box shall be a Knox-Box® type and size approved by the
Codes Official.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § III]
When a building is protected by an automatic fire alarm system
(automatic dialer, central station, external audible alarm), the Codes
Official shall require a key box to be installed at that location.
The key box shall be a Knox-Box® type and size approved by the
Codes Official.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § IV]
The Codes Official shall require a key box to be installed for
any facility, firm, or corporation which handles, uses, or stores
hazardous materials and/or is required to prepare the emergency services
material safety data sheets (MSDS) or hazardous chemical inventory
forms under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986
(SARA Title III). All pertinent documents shall be stored in a lock
box document vault. This includes any facility, firm or corporation
operating structures that handle, use or store hazardous materials.
The key box shall be a Knox-Box® type and size approved by the
Codes Official.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § V]
When a property contains a building or structure that is protected
by a locked fence or gate, the Codes Official may require a Knox padlock
to be installed at a location approved by the Codes Official upon
consultation with first responding fire company.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § VI]
The Codes Official shall require a key box to be installed as
may be required by the International Building Code or International
Fire Code. The key box shall be a Knox-Box® type and size approved
by the Codes Official.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § VII]
This Part shall not apply to owner-occupied one- and two-family
dwellings and individual townhouse units. For the purpose of this
Part, individual townhouse units are considered single family by unit.
This Part includes any commercial or industrial structures, multi-family
residential and apartment complexes, structures that have restricted
access through locked doors, governmental buildings, nursing care
facilities, educational buildings, places of assembly (churches),
and other at-risk properties.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § VIII]
1. The owner or operator of a structure subject to this Part is required
at all times to keep a key(s) in the lock box that will allow access
to the structure. The key boxes shall contain the following:
A. Keys to locked points of egress, whether in interior or exterior
of such buildings.
B. Keys to locked mechanical rooms.
C. Keys to locked elevator rooms and controls.
D. Keys to any fence or secured areas.
E. Keys to any other area that may be required by the Codes Official
after a written notice.
F. A card containing the emergency contact people and phone numbers
for such building.
G. Keys to areas of the building where fire alarm panels and fire protection
systems are located.
H. An inventory of the keys is to be posted inside all lock boxes, as
per approval of the Codes Official.
2. In lieu of having the interior keys in the exterior lock box, a second
lock box may be located within the main lobby of the building to hold
these keys.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § IX]
The lock box identified by the Codes Official shall be installed
on the front of the building (side 1) near the main entry door and
between six and eight feet above ground unless approved at a higher
or lower level by the Codes Official and/or first due fire company.
The Borough must provide written notice and provide owner 30 days
to install the lock box. Registration with the Borough is required
prior to the installation of a Knox-Box® in order to verify the
proper mounting location and installation of said Knox-Box®.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § X]
The Borough Codes Department, upon consultation with Borough
Fire Chief, shall be authorized to implement rules and regulations
for the use of the lock box system, shall designate the type of key
lock box system to be implemented within the Borough, and shall have
the authority to require all structures to use the designated system.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § XI; as amended by Ord.
1295, 9/9/2013]
1. Failure to install the box after 30 days according to the directions
by the Borough Codes Official, enables the Borough to install said
box at the owner's expense. The owner of a building so designated
to install a box can appeal that determination to the Borough within
30 days after notification to do so.
2. Any property or building owner failing to comply with, or in violation
of, the terms of this Part after notice from the Code Official, upon
conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial district
judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses
under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced
to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of
payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed
90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each
section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall
constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § XII]
Owners or applicants of one- and two-family dwellings and townhouse
units may utilize the lock box system upon consultation with and issuance
of proper permits/registration by the Borough Codes Official. The
key box shall be a Knox brand or a type and size approved by the Codes
Official.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § XIII]
1. The security procedures in place by the Bucks County Communications
911 Center will be followed. No steps, displays, sign or other fixtures
or structure protrusions shall be located under the box, which would
allow intruders to access the box without assistance.
A. No fire department personnel shall carry a Knox-Box® key.
B. All Knox-Box® access keys shall be installed in a Knox-Box®
Sentra-Loc system installed in the fire apparatus.
[Ord. 1264, 8/10/2009, § XV]
All existing buildings shall comply with this Part months from
its effective date. All newly constructed buildings not yet occupied
or buildings currently under construction and all buildings or businesses
applying for certificate of occupancy, shall comply immediately upon
approval of this Part. This Part shall take effect immediately upon
its passage.